Control system.



and. 669,824. PATENTEDOG'I. 29, 1907.

' L'. M. ASPINWALL CONTROL SYSTBNL.

APPLIOLTIOI FILED vJANA), 1905.

WITNESSES B m, .6M W I ATTORNEY UNITED STATES IZATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS M. ASPINWALL, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNO R TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROL SYSTEM.

Patented Oct. 29, 1907.

Applicaicn filed anuary 3. 1905. 'Serial No. 23 51 TQ all who-m it may concern: v

Be it known that I, LOUIS M. ASPINWALL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in

trica'l translating devices, and particularly to such I systems'ss are employed in the control of electric railway vehicles. I My invention has for its object to providemeans for preventing the formation of such circuit connections for the propelling motors of-an electric vehicle that the motors may act as generators and deliver current to the 1 5 controlling. devices and circuits.

Another obj ectof the invention is to provide n eans for. preventing the production of arcs or injurious sparking between the terminals of the reversing switches that may be employed in such systems. Reversing switches, as usually constructed, are provided with only two normal positions, corresponding, respectively, to forward and reverse direction of rotation of the motors. If a vehicle that is equipped with a reversing switch of this type is operated by other having occupied eitherits forward or reverse position, to a position such that no circuit may be completed means .than,its driving motors, when the reversing switch occupies a position corresponding to a direction of motion that is opposite to the actual direction,'the

motors will act as generators and deliver current to the.

controlling devices. This may be prevented by the employment of a reversing switch which returns, after through it, 'a reversing switch of this character being provided. by my invention. With such'a reversing switch, a circuit-breaker. should be employed whichinterrupts'the main circuitwhenever the translating devices are not in use, and my invention provides means for preventing the reversing switch from returning from either its forward orits reverse. position to its off position until after the circuit-breaker has opened.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing illustrates a power system embodying my invention. Single-phase, alternating current energy is supplied from a trolley 1 and a track rail 2 through an autotransformer winding 3, a voltage regulator 4, cut-out switches 5, a reversing switch 6 and motors 7, the terurinalsv of the armature and field magnet windings of which are properly connected to stationary Contact terminals 8 of the reversing switch 6 and to contact terminals 9 of the cut-out switches 5.

The reversing switch 6 is normally maintain d-in its off position by means of springs 10 and is thrown to either its forward or its rverse position by means of tion it is held by the one or the other of two retaining magnet windings l3 and 14.

The voltage regulator 4 comprises a primary winding 15 and a secondary winding 16 which are inductively related and are relatively adjustable. This regulator may conform substantially to what is set forth in Patent No. 740,147, granted September 29, 1903, to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company upon an application filed by Benjamin G. Lamrne, or it may have such other specific form as may be desired. A motor of any suitable construction may be provided for the purpose of rotating the primary winding 15. I have shown an air motor 17 for this seryice, the supply of having a controlling magnet 18, and the air supply for rotating the motor 17 and winding 15 in adirection corresponding to decreasing voltages being governed by a valve having a. controlling magnet 19. Evidently the air motor 17 may be replaced by a motor operated by any other character of energy without affecting the scope of 'rny invention.

Mounted upon the shaft 20 of thevOltage regulator 4, or operatedbtherwise by the rotation of the winding 15, is an interlocking switch 21 comprising a ring 22 and a ring segment 23 that are electrically connected and brushes-24, 25, 26 and 27 adapted to engage therewith The brush 26 may engage only the projection 28 on the ring '22 when theregulator is in its of position, being preventedfrom engagementwith other portions of the ring by means of a stop 29. Op-

'- crating magnet windings 30 and 31 of a limit switch 32'and a relay switch 33, respectively, are supplied with energy from a secondary winding 34 of a series transformer 35, the primary winding 36 of which is connected in series with the auto-transformer winding 3.

The relay switch 33 is provided with a retaining magnet winding37, an armature core 37 being brought withiuits magnetic. influence when the relay switch is opened by the coil 31. A circuit-breaker 38 is provided-with an operating magnet winding 39 in circuit with the relay switch 33 and interlocking switches 40, 41 and 42 are provided, the movable members of which are so connected to the movable member of the circuitbreaker 38 as to be operated by and with it. The operating magnet windings of the various devices in the main motor circuits are supplied with energy from a battery B and the circuits are controlled by means o master switches 43 and 44. I

Interlocking-switches 45 and 46 are mounted upon or are otherwise operated by the reversing switch 6,

to the circuit-breaker operating winding 39 and the operating magnet windings 11 and 12, in which posil latter for the purpose of closing the circiiits to the retaining magnetwindings '13 and 14 after the reversing switch is thrown to either its forward or reverse position. These interlocking switches comprise movable conducting strips 47, 48 and 49 which'are adapted to engage stationary contact fingers 50, 51, 52, 53, 5'4 and 55, the conducting strip 48 being common. to both interlocking switches for the sake of simplicity of con struction. v r

If the master. switch 43 is moved to position a, a 'circuit is completed from thvpositiveterminal of the battery B, through conductor 56, contact finger'57, controller drum'58,' c0 tact finger 59, conductor 60,

reversing switch operatingmagnet 11, contact finger 26, projection 28, ring 22, contact finger and conductor 61, to the negative terminal of the battery B. j

The magnet winding 11, when energized, throws the reversing switch 6 to its forward position and at the: same time operates interlocking switches 45 and 46.,

A battery circuit is then completed through the mas-' ter switch 43, conductor 60, contact finger 50, con} ducting strip 47, contact fing'er- 51, operating magnet winding 39 of the circuit-breaker: 38, relay switch and conductor 61. -The circuit-breaker 38 is circuit iscompleted through the conductor 56, contact finger 54, conducting strip 48, contact finger 55 It; taining magnet winding .13, interlocking switch-, 40 and conductor61. The motors 7 arenow, suppliedwith energy winding If the master contact finger 571 drum 58, contact finger- 62 conductor 63, limit switch 32, interlocking switch 42, valve operating magnet winding 18, finger'24, rings 23' and 22, finger 25 and conductor 61. A- supply of air is then admitted to the motor 17 and the primary winding 15 of the voltage regulator 4 and the interlocking switch rings 22 and 23 are rotated sothat contact finger 27 .engagesthe ring 23 and contact finger26 disengage's the projection 28. After the latter operation has occurred, the circuit of-the operating magnet winding 11 is interrupted and the retainingmagnet winding 13 serves to hold the reversing switch Sin its forward position,

Rotation of the primary winding 15 continues through an agle of 180 when the contact finger 24 becomes disengaged from the -ring'23, thereby interruptenergy will be supplied from the secondary" winding winding 30 of the limit switch 32 toopen said; switch, The circuit of the valve-operating-magnet winding 18 i 34 of the series transformer 35 to the operating magnet will 'be' thus interrupted andffurther rotation of the primary winding 15 will" be prevented until the curren i pplied to the auto-transformer,winding3 has fallen below .the predetermined limiting values,

If a still larger amount of energy is supplidgi to the j auto-transformer winding 3. and this amount oijenergy' exceeds -a predetermined limiting value, sufficient. energywill'be supplied tothe magnet winding '31 to latlng'device, a reversing'switch. and acircuit-brealrer,

then 'clo sed-a nd a battery at the lowest voltage from the auto-transformer,

switch is is moved to the position b a battery circuit'is established through conductor 56,

' the motors 7 to be reversed.

operate the -relay switch 33 and the circuit of the dperating magnet winding 39 of the circuit-breaker 38 will be thereby interrupted. By reason of such circuit interruption, th'e interlocking switch 40 will open and the circuit of the retaining magnet winding 13 of the reversing switch 6 will be thereby interrupted,

whereby the said switch 6 will be permitted to return toits off position. When -the relay switch 33 is fully opened, the armature core 37 is brought into the field of the retaining magnet winding 37 and the relayswitch 33 is held in its open position until the reversing switch 6 and the master switch '43 are returned to their off positions. a When the circuit-breaker 38 is open, a circuit is established, by means of switch 41, through the valve operating magnet winding 19, contact finger 27, drum v rings 23 and 22, contact finger25 and conductor 61.

Air. pressure is then admitted to the motor 17 and-the I primarywindingj15 is returned to a position corresponding to minimum voltage, in which position the contact finger 27 no longer engages" the drum ring 23 and .the circuit o i the valve-operating magnet winding" v, 19 is interrupted, thereby preventing further rotation of the primary member of the regulator,

If, during normal operation of the motors, it is desired. to decrease the voltage applied to them, the

master switch 43 should be returned to position -a,

thereby completing a battery circuit through the If the masterswitch is moved to theposition a finger 67 engages the drum 58. and a battery circuit is established through conductor 68 and operating mags I and 22, contact finger 25 and .conducloo net vwinding -12 of the reversing switch 6, thereby j causing the direction of rotation oi the armatures of If the system is: employed for the control-of a pl'u r'ality of railway vehicles, each-of which is provided. with the devices here shown and described, the conductors 56, 60, 63, 66 and 68 may be extended irom car to car, thusenabling the train to'be controlled from-a single master switch located on any car.

The main circuits of the system; i. reg those cons 'taining'devicesbearing reference characters 1, 36 3,

4, 15, '16,, 5, 6 and 7, 'are shown in the drawings by heavy lines-in order to distinguish them from the auniliary or :control circuits that contain the remain-- ing devices. 1 v I I claim as-my invention:

1. In a system of'control, the combination with main and auxlllary circuits :1 translatlng device, a-reverslng switch provided with means for moving it to'and holding it in an on! position, and a circuit-breaker located in the main circuit, of means for preventing the reversing switch from returning to its off posltlon until the circult-breaker has opened.

2'. In a system of control, the combination with main and auxiliary circuits :1. [translating device, a reversing switch pro'vldedwith means for moving it to and holding it in an of! position, and. circuit-breaker located in the main. circuit, of meanficontrolled by the circuit breaker for preventing thfreverslng switch from return ing to its oil, posltionfnntll the circuit-breaker has opened, 'f

3. Ina system of control, the combination with a trans-j of operating and retaining magnet windings for said reversing switch, and an interlocking switch operated by 5 In a system of control, the combination with atranslating device, a reversing switch and a circuit-breaker, of operating and retaining magnet windings for said reversing switch, an interlocking switch operated by the reversing switch for preventing energimtion of the retaining magnet winding until the reversing switch has been thrown to its forward or to its reverse position, and an interlocking switch operated by the reversing switch to:- preventing deenergization ot the retaining magnet windings until the circuit-breaker has opened.

6. The combination with a translating device anda circuit-breaker located in the circuit thereof, of a revel-s ing switch, means for retaining the reversing'switch in normal '0pen-circuit position, means for moving the rerel-sing switch to either'its forward or its reverse operatthe reversing switch which controls the circuits to theing position, and means for holding it in said operating position that is governedby the circuit-breaker.

7. The combination with a translating device anda circuit-breaker located in the circuit thereof, 01. a reversing switch, means for retaining the reversing switch in normal open-circuit position, means for moving the reversing switch to either its lorward or its reverse position, and means for retaining the reversing switch in said position until the circuit-breaker 'ls'opened.

S. The combination with a translating device and a circnitbreaker located in the .circuit thereof, or a reversing switch, means for retaining the reversing switch in normal open-circuit position, lneans for moving the reverslng switch to'either its forward or its reverse position,

and means tor retaining the reversing switch in said positionwhile the circuit-breaker is closed in testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th dhy of'December, 1904.

LOUIS M ASPINWALL. Witnesses:

0. San. SANDBORGH, BIRNEY Hmns. 

